Question to councillors about fraud

[Lee Scoresby]

A question to Councillors Hamvas, Barber, or any of their colleagues who cares to answer. Nota bene, I have no presumption whatever about the answer. I am simply curious, as I suspect other EDF'ers will be:

Today's 'BBC Sunday Politics' described a survey of London's 33 local authorities regarding the detection of fraud and prosecution of staff. The estimate is that one pound in 20 in London goes astray; that's over ?1 billion each year. This segment can be seen online at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03cz958/Sunday_Politics_London_20_10_2013/ - at 51:40 on the timeline.

My question is, was Southwark one of the 25 councils who responded or one of the eight who did not? If so, what (briefly) are the figures for Southwark? If not, why not? The suspicion, expressed in the programme, is that non-responders are simply not looking for fraud.

Regarding the law and the general public, I am always staggered that in an urban area of about a quarter of a million people, Southwark publicity always boasts prosecution figures, spread over years, for, say, littering and flytipping, illegal trading practices, etc, as well as evictions for rent arrears and subletting, which often do not reach double digits.

I AM NOT SAYING that a council exists first and foremost as a big, scary enforcer over either its own staff or the public, certainly not. What a negative view that would be. And, to repeat, I AM ABSOLUTELY NEITHER ALLEGING NOR PRESUMING that Southwark Council is any more or less prone to fraud than any other local authority. But the willingness and ability of council legal departments to prosecute where appropriate IS an important bottom line. So I would be interested to hear what councillors have to say.

Lee Scoresby

[Renata Hamvas]

Hi Lee,

I know that Southwark definitely do pursue internal fraud and prosecute. I don't however have the exact figures at my fingertips.

Renata

[silverfox]

I wouldn't worry about it Lee. One 20th is peanuts.

How much has it cost to put cycle lanes into the borough, 20mph signage, multiple redesigns of Peckham Rye four-way junction, just to name some obvious examples in this area. spread that over Southwark as a whole and you have a lot of tax payers with donkey ears.

Give me fraud any day. costs me far less in taxes.

[KidKruger]

Conways paving our streets with fake pavements is a perpetual fraud that seems to run and run, with no accountability.

[PeckhamRose]

A flat near me renovated and had to be redone by Southwark because the cowboys who put in the lowest tender did so for a reason. So it ended up costing Southwark much more money in the end.

Being sent no less than 3 useless Southwark magazines every quarter.

Renting two garages but completely incapable of putting both on one account so I get two lots of bills and magazines put in both every time.

Being sent incorrect service charge statements again, and again, and again and again, despite emails telling me the correct figure.

Constant time wasting and money wasting public consultations (including the Community Councils) on things that already have a date for implementation anyway.

All these tiny things, to one Southwark person.

[uncleglen]

The public sector has always been and always will be open to abuse. I have personal experience and other examples stretching back to 1970 that make me sick to my stomach since there is a culture of 'well we're on low pay so we take what we can'. Several relatives in construction have also told me about illegal practices which cost the council tax payer a lot of money- backhanders, over charging for jobs (before council work was contracted out). Leaving the office on a visit and not returning (ie go home at 15:30) was de rigeur at one council I worked in. And that's just what I know....

[Mason]

I am not specifically talking about Southwark but you may find this alarming, but nobody actually realises this.

I worked at King's for a few years as the store manager, this was ordering food and essesials for the patients and staff. We had a schedule of placing orders everyday for the food for both the reaturant and the patients every evening. This provided all meals including breakfast. We were contractors and were only allowed to purchase from a list of companies on the approved list of suppliers. These suppliers charged, and I will give you an example, the minipack of cornflakes ?16.00 for a pack of 20 which I never understood, however I found out that the same item from NHS Food Supplies was ?3.50. I brought this up with the contractor and I was sacked within a month, after I started purchaseing these. This is an example, there were many items I did change the company I purchaed from.

I did not further the matter as laweyrs in that day were not interested, and even the union did not stand by me. There is a sense that although these companies invest money into the NHS they are given a free run to charge what they like, and it is my gussing they share the profit with their preferred company.

We see that staff are not being paid on the value of the work they do, but we allow the Government to waste money like this when they complain about not being to afford the services.

This is only a comment but then it goes to show how money is wasted, and due to this people suffer for lack of Government funds.